Title
To recognize April 24th -April 28th, 2023 as National Reentry Week
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WHEREAS, each year, over 600,000 individuals return to their communities from State and Federal prisons; including approximately 2,000 people every month returning from prison or jail to our own community.
WHEREAS, the challenges facing formerly incarcerated people during their transition back into society are far-reaching, including finding and maintaining employment, locating safe and affordable housing, obtaining reliable transportation, reuniting with family, accessing healthcare and mental health services, and dealing with the trauma of reentry which can lead to recidivism; and
WHEREAS, every person has value and deserves the opportunity to unlock a broader future, and a conviction history should not unfairly exclude them from doing so, especially regarding fair access to public benefits, housing, employment, and the right to vote; and
WHEREAS, supporting formerly incarcerated people by creating opportunities for them to lead healthy and productive lives benefits both their families and the safety and strength of our local communities; and
WHEREAS, federal, state, and local government must work towards establishing programs and policies focused on removing the barriers that prevent formerly incarcerated people from thriving in the 21 st Century Economy; and
WHEREAS, by focusing on equity, reentry, and social supports, we can build a community that values second chances and opportunities; and
WHEREAS, coalitions, including the Central Ohio Restored Citizens’ Collaborative and the Franklin County Reentry Advisory Board are sponsoring Central Ohio Reentry Week, a collaborative, weeklong event celebrating successes and highlighting the importance of effective reentry practices and policies;
WHEREAS, it is imperative that advocacy and educational efforts for effective reentry practices and policies occur year-round, emphasizing the need for reform of the criminal legal system...
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